Hunter Pence Missing Scooter Update: THEY FOUND IT!

Back when the television show America's Most Wanted was a thing (Is it still a thing?), I always liked it when the host of the show would give us an update on a previously unsolved crime or uncultured scumbag.

I like my stories to have a beginning, a middle and an end, and AMW made sure that mine did. Scumbag captured? We'd find out!

So in this same spirit of follow-up and thoroughness, I feel it is necessary to update you on the latest news in the search for former Astros and current San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence's motor scooter, which was allegedly stolen from in front of a Bay Area restaurant on Sunday night.

Even better to update all of you because the story has a HAPPY ENDING!

I am pleased to announce that, according to ESPN.com (and Pence's Twitter and Instagram accounts), the little fella is back where he belongs, with his rightful owner:

The motor scooter had become semi-legendary locally in San Francisco ever since Pence was traded to the Giants from the Philadelphia Phillies in 2012, as fans became captivated with the device being Pence's main form of transportation to and from AT&T Park. So transfixed were Giants fans that the club made Pence's bobblehead a facsimile of Pence on the scooter.

Pence had offered up an autographed version of said bobblehead as a reward for the scooter's return with no questions asked and a promise of immunity from prosecution. As it turned out, the reward wasn't required since the scooter was returned to police anonymously at AT&T Park during the Giants' 5-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

Pence said that reliever Juan Gutierrez informed him of the scooter's safe return when he went back to the dugout between innings.

"He was like, 'They got your scooter!'" Pence said.

The scooter was originally stolen outside a restaurant on San Francisco's waterfront Sunday night. Shortly after the theft, Pence took to social media to inform his followers of the sad turn of events, a move that started a brushfire of social media attention and support from Pence's fans.

"This was like a together-we-are-Giant type story," Pence said, citing one of the team's past marketing slogans. "Everyone had my back."

"We can all sleep tonight because he got his scooter back," Giants manager Bruce Bochy joked. "I think whoever took it felt the pressure and said, 'Hey, I'm out of here. I'm getting rid of this thing.' But I know he's got a smile on his face now."

Sean is a contributing freelance writer who covers Houston area sports daily in the News section, with periodic columns and features, as well. He also hosts afternoon drive on SportsRadio 610, as well as the post game show for the Houston Texans.